Spotlight on Virginia's 9th District

"As your next Governor, I will make the top priority bringing jobs and opportunity to every region of Virginia." - Gov. Bob McDonald.

Too bad Rick Boucher (VA-9th) is making Gov. McDonald's task more difficult.  You see, Rick (one of our 50 "Must Go" Congressman) put the Pelosi/Reid agenda ahead of his constituents when he voted for the failed stimulus (where are the jobs?) and the cap-and-trade (don't you represent a coal-heavy region in southern VA where 6/10 votes went to McCain in '08?) bills in 2009.  Rick's voting record proves that there is no such thing as a moderate democrat.  Rick's rhetoric over the years has been nothing but hot air.

It doesn't look like Virginian's are showing the love for "Rate-Hike" Rick ... there is even speculation that he will retire rather than face the voters in VA-9.  Potential challengers, especially if he steps down, include state Sen. Wampler (his father lost his seat to Boucher in 1982) and state House Majority Leader Griffith (one slight problem: he doesn't live in the 9th, although he's apparently within walking distance of the district lines).  The challenger will be decided on May 22nd.

NRCC spokesman Andy Sere notes "The environment in the district is just incredible."  However, Rick's retirement is no sure thing, as of September 30th he had $1,701,000 cash on hand. Stay tuned …

Watch Rick claim (with a straight face no less!) that "there is not a penny of tax in this legislation" when explaining the Cap-and-Trade bill he voted for.  Unbelievable.

Spotlight on Pennsylvania's 10th District

If you thought that the race for Ohio's 16th Congressional District - a seat held by the GOP for 58 years before John Boccieri's 2008 victory – was interesting, then take a look at what is taking shape in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District.

The 10^th district is “represented” by Chris Carney (D), a "Must Go" Congressman who voted for the Stimulus (where are the jobs, northwest PA?) and Obamacare bills in 2009.  This district gave President Bush 60% of the vote in 2004 and McCain 54% of the vote in 2008.  It is also a district where (judging by the state’s 2008 democratic primary results) President Obama is not particularly popular.
 

So, it should come as little surprise that the GOP is aiming to retake this seat in 2010.  Reports are that U.S. Attorney Tom Marino will enter the race.  His name should sound familiar, because House Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to recruit him in prior election cycles.  According to one insider, successfully recruiting Marino “continues the trend of capable GOP challengers lining up against incumbent Democrats who have had an entirely too easy time in previously Republican districts."

Marino is expected to make a formal announcement in Williamsport on Wednesday (January 27^th)

Leave us your comments on this race.

BREAKING NEWS: "Must Go" Congressman Marion Berry (D-AR) Is Announcing Retirement

Update:Dem sources confirm to Hotline OnCall that Rep. Marion Berry (one of the Blue Dogs) will announce his retirement tomorrow today.

The 7-term Dem won more than 60% of the vote in every re-election bid.  But he represents a district that gave McCain (R-AZ) 59% of the vote in 2008 and voted for the Stimulus and Obamacare.  No campaign rhetoric - even with Obama's former campaign manager David Plouffe now overseeing the Dem races - could overcome Berry's 2009 record.
 
We expect Plouffe to nudge out several other Dems who walked the Obama / Pelosi plank while representing McCain districts.  Stay tuned.
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Update: Challenger Rick Crawford's Statement 

"I respect Congressman Berry’s decision to retire and applaud his many years of public service. I will continue to run a strong campaign based on creating jobs, reducing the deficit, and representing Arkansas values. We can’t afford Obama’s liberal agenda and I am ready to go to Washington to be a check and balance on the liberal Congress."

Check out Rick Crawford here.

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Update Update:  Berry's Parting Shot At Barry (the Blueberry Blame Game Begins)

The Politico is reporting: 

“I’ve been doing that with this White House, and they just don’t seem to give it any credibility at all,” Berry said. “They just kept telling us how good it was going to be. The president himself, when that was brought up in one group, said, ‘Well, the big difference here and in ’94 was you’ve got me.’ We’re going to see how much difference that makes now.” [snip]

“I began to preach last January that we had already seen this movie and we didn’t want to see it again because we know how it comes out,” said Arkansas’ 1st District congressman, who worked in the Clinton administration before being elected to the House in 1996... "I just began to have flashbacks to 1993 and ’94. No one that was here in ’94, or at the day after the election felt like. It certainly wasn’t a good feeling.”

Spotlight on South Carolina's 5th District (Spratt)

Hey Spratt....Why'd you vote for that, and that, and that???!!!

Yesterday, Spratt made it on our list of MUST GO congressmen because of his votes for stimulus (where are the jobs?), cap & trade (do the people in the 5th district really want their electricity bills to "skyrocket?"), and obamacare (nail in the coffin).

Today, Spratt's home paper took notice and called him out for "bowing to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi." 

Mick Mulvaney (state rep) is gunning for Spratt's seat.  Mick is a "traditional" conservative and not afraid to take Spratt to the matt.  In his own words:

I am a Republican, but more than that I am what I call a "traditional" conservative.  I believe that government serves a very important, but very limited purpose.  Sometimes that puts me at odds with Democrats, sometimes with Republicans.  That's fine with me.  My first priority is to the folks in Lancaster and York Counties, and to the principles we share: limited government; fiscal restraint and lower taxes; personal responsibility; strong educational opportunities; and a focus on private enterprise to provide jobs and create wealth.

We haven't seen any polling on this race.  However, Public Policy Polling (PPP) does have a poll out asking readers which Congressional race they should poll next.  If enough of us go to their Web site (http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/01/pick-house-district.html) and vote for SC-5 (John Spratt), then maybe we'll see some results soon!

Click here to let us know what you think of this important congressional race!

Unbelievable.  Does Spratt even care what he votes for?

01.26.10 UPDATE: 
OUR COMMENTS MADE THE DIFFERENCE!  PPP is set to release polling data on this race.  Even better....PPP looked at Spratt's approval, what his constituents think of Obama and health care, and where Spratt stands relative to challenger Mick Mulvaney.

01.26 UPDATE II:
National Republicans to run television ad against Spratt during the State of the Union - Ad blasts Spratt for introducing procedural move would get around the need for a 60-vote majority to hold off Republicans



01.27 UPDATE - PPP Poll released today
"Spratt's going to have to fight a lot harder than usual to keep his seat this fall but early indications are that 28 years of service aren't going to get done in by his health care vote."

MUST GO Congressmen - Phase II

The "Must Go" Congressmen - Phase II

We are receiving a lot of positive feedback about our initial MMX FLEX CHECKS list of Congressmen that "Must Go" in November.  Thank you and keep sending us your thoughts.

For those of you wondering why your Congressman was not included in our initial list (aka, Jane from Palm Beach ...no worries, Ronnie made the list), check our Phase II listing below.  These Congressmen made our Phase II list because they (1) voted for at least 2 of the 3 big bills last year (stimulus, cap&trade, obamacare) and (2) represent a district where McCain garnered between 45 and 49% of the vote in 2008 (in a so-called historic and once-in-a-lifetime election).

Click image to enlarge and feel free to e-mail this page around by clicking the button below. 

MUST GO Congressmen - Phase I

The "Must Go" Congressmen - Phase I

MMX FLEX has identified 24 "Must Go" Congressmen who must be defeated in November.  These 24 Congressmen made the list because they (1) voted for at least 2 of the 3 big bills last year (stimulus, cap&trade, obamacare) and (2) represent a district that McCain carried in 2008.

MMX FLEX will be working with challengers and GOP/Libertarian/Tea Party activists in each of these congressional districts throughout the year in order to provide you with the latest news, polling, and analysis.  It is no secret that politics is more than local, which makes who gets elected in the Fourth Congressional District of Missouri (yeah, that's you Ike) as important to the West Virginian as the Missourian.  Because of this, success in 2010 requires a coordinated effort and an informed public like never before.

We will be identifying additional Congressmen tomorrow who voted for at least 2 of the 3 big bills and represent a district where McCain garnered 45% of the vote - remember, he got nowhere near that amount in New Jersey and Massachusetts (and just 46% in Virginia) ... Stay tuned.

Click on the image.